June 17, 2011

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What a fantastic FREE
High Fashion Catwalk Event! & anyone can attend! The Yohji Yamamoto Show is on 1 July 2011 at the V&A but booking is essential – details below

Me? Go to a fashion show with impossibly proportioned models wearing impractical clothes? Never! And yet … I was there! At the V&A, watching the amazingly outrageous designs of Jean Paul Gaultier. It was one of five shows of the day put on as part of the Fashion in Motion series of free catwalk shows. This was the first time Jean Paul’s work, from his early collections to his most recent, had been shown in the UK.

All the Gaultier iconic items were there, from underwear worn as outwear, the corset dresses, the Aran pullover dress, the patchworked mermaid dress, the silver anatomic dress.

Jean Paul Gaultier iconic corset design

My favourites were the most outrageous, the Divine Jacqueline, the ballet costumer for Regine Chopiot, Sacre Coeur and the black lace capelin dress.

An inspirational experience – it was half an hour of sheer entertainment with a very excited and appreciative audience: young, old, male and female, fashionistas, the wealthy, students, admirers. All wildly applauding Jean Paul when he appeared at the end of each show. And what a friendly chap! He mingled happily with the crowd, willingly signing anything offered to him. He took a real interest in the questions from fashion students and young people – where did he find inspiration (everywhere), what he was most proud of (the most popular designs!)

Jean Paul Gaultier iconic design

Two young women who work in the accessories trade were ecstatic at having the chance to attend the show, very well aware they would never normally have access to a couturier fashion show such as this. Others were knocked out by the clothes, the models, the atmosphere and energised by the sheer excitement of the event. That clothes such as these are inspirational is clear and elements do filter down to high street fashion.

Jean Paul Gaultier iconic design

Attending the show made me appreciate how successful the V&A is at working to make art forms accessible to the general public. Their aim is to show fashion as it is meant to be seen – in movement. Previous designers featured in the series include Ozwald Boateng, Giles Deacon, Roksanda Ilincic, Christian Lacroix, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, Vivienne Westwood and Erdem. Absolutely everyone I spoke to agreed it was an absolutely fantastic event and couldn’t wait for the next one! Must say I felt the same way myself!

Yohji Yamamoto retrospective exhibition at V&A 2011

If you would like to go to the next show on 1 July 2011, featuring the work of Yohji Yamamoto admission is free but booking is essential.
Tickets will be available to book from 20 June on 020 7942 2820.

If there is absolutely no chance of you being able to attend you might like to know Fashion in Motion: Yohji Yamamoto will be broadcast live from the V&A website www.vam.ac.uk/channel/live